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Bambang Soesatyo most likely to become House speaker: Golkar executive
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New spirit: President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (center), accompanied by Golkar Party politician Ibnu Munzir (left), newly-elected party chairman Airlangga Hartarto (second left) and two other Golkar politicians, Nurdin Halid (second right) and Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (right), strikes a tifa (traditional Papuan musical instrument) during the opening of the party's extraordinary meeting in Jakarta on Dec. 18, 2017. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
B
ambang Soesatyo, the chairman of House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees human rights, security and legal affairs, is being touted as the most likely figure to replace former House speaker Setya Novanto.
“Bambang has the highest chance [to become the House speaker]. If we are talking about opportunities, he has most of them,” Golkar Party executive Zainudin Amali said on Thursday.
It has been more than one month since Setya stepped down from the House’s top post over his involvement in the e-ID graft case.
The Golkar faction has not yet named any lawmaker to replace him. However, according to Zainudin, Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto has picked a name.
The faction held a plenary meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss the matter. “We will officially announce a name at the latest next week,” said Zainudin.
Previously, Bambang and Zainudin were mentioned as the most likely candidates to fill the House speaker post.
Bambang is one of five lawmakers accused of having intimated former House member Miryam S. Haryani, a Hanura Party politician, to influence her testimony in the e-ID graft trial.
Airlangga has so far refused to comment in detail on the House speaker choice. “All Golkar lawmakers at the House have the same chances to become the House speaker,” he said. (ebf)
